Vision: A community free from the harm associated with alcohol and other drug use

Mission Statement

Improved well-being for:

people experiencing problems with the use of alcohol and/or other drugs;

people impacted by the alcohol and/or other drug use of another.

Abbreviated Mission: To improve the well-being of people affected by alcohol and other drug use

Values

Empowerment

Inclusiveness

Social Justice

Respect

Integrity

Humanity

Guiding Principles

Sustainability

Evidence based

Culturally informed and responsive

Flexibility in service delivery

Leadership through partnership and collaboration

Cyrenian House acknowledges that there are high rates of people who experience problems with the use of alcohol and/or other drugs and at the same time experience mental health issues. Cyrenian House therefore expects co-occurring disorders to be the norm rather than the exception. In service provision Cyrenian House strives to provide the best standards of practice to address both issues.

Aims

To minimise harm caused by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use through the promotion of goals of abstinence, reduction in use, safer using practices and safer sexual practices.

To promote greater understanding of behaviours and strategies that lead to best possible mental health (MH) outcomes

To increase consumer understanding and awareness of addiction and dependence.

To increase consumer understanding and awareness about co-occurring AOD and MH issues

To foster growth of positive living skills, self-esteem and widen choice.

To improve communications and relating skills.

To contribute to an improvement in physical and mental health.

To refer consumers to appropriate community based support.

To reduce criminal behaviour.

To reduce the harm associated with AOD use in the wider community.

The above aims are informed by the following understanding:

Drug use can be a complex problem affecting and being affected by the many social systems within which individuals live.

Different philosophies and interventions are appropriate for different consumers and thorough assessment and treatment matching is necessary to ensure best outcomes.

To achieve best outcomes for consumers, physical, mental, psychological and spiritual health all need to be addressed.

Recovery within the alcohol and other drug context is an ongoing process and positive benefits are achieved even in failed attempts at reduced use.

Upon achieving reduced alcohol and/or other drug use consumers often require further support to maximise well being.

Within the mental health context recovery is recognised as an individual experience and services should always be negotiated and provided in partnership with the consumer.

Referral to other services should be made where appropriate in order to meet consumer needs in an appropriate and timely manner.

Consumer confidentiality is guided by The Privacy Act 1988, the Australian Privacy Principles 2014 and the organisation’s Duty of Care Statement.

As recovery may be a lengthy process and treatment interventions expensive, consumers should be actively encouraged to access community based self help groups as a foundation for continuing progress.

Collaboration and partnership with other services is essential to ensure that consumers have easy access to services outside the agency’s field of expertise.

Programs should always be a balanced and comprehensive response to the complex needs of the consumer.